Lucrina Fetti

Lucrina Fetti (c. 1590 – c. 1673) was an Italian painter born in Rome under the name Giustina. She was the daughter of a lesser-known painter, Pietro Fetti, and the sister and pupil of the more distinguished painter of the family, Domenico Fetti. She accompanied her family to Mantua when her brother was invited to be court painter to Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua.

Lucrina and Her Art

After entering the convent, Lucrina lived there for the rest of her life either painting decorations for the convent or painting portraits of the princesses who were raised there. However, since she became a nun, her sheltered lifestyle provided her with limited resources to visual models, artistic training, and documentary sources to record her personal life. It was only until recently that scholars were able to gather a complete collection of Lucrina's work since most of her work was mixed up with her brother's work. There were about ten religious works that were found throughout the convent's external church that were made by or partly made by Lucrina. Most were found in the chapel dedicated to Saint Margaret, while the rest were found on the chapel walls. They all portrayed the life of Christ. These included “The Annunciation”, “Visitation”, and “Adoration of the Shepherds”. They were also inscribed with the abbreviation “S.L.F.R.F.S.O” or “Suor Lucrina Fetti Romana fece in Sant’Orsola” and the date 1629. and Caterina de’ Medici Gonzaga with a striking resemblance to Saint Helena.

Other skills When Lucrina was not providing paintings for the church, she spent the remaining time supporting the convent by taking care of inheritance claims that were associated with Domenico. Ten years after Magherita's death in 1618 financial strains were brought upon the convent. However, Lucrina was able to demonstrate that she had some economic and political knowledge by representing Sant’Orsola and winning appeals for the ownership of family properties. She died around 1673, spending nearly sixty years serving the convent as a nun, painter and economic negotiator.

Works "Annunciation", the Museum of Palazzo Ducale, Mantua Portrait of "Eleanor Gonzaga" (1598–1655) wife of Ferdinand II (1578–1637), Holy Roman Emperor Portrait of "Archangel Gabriel of the Annunciation", 1651, Museum of Palazzo Ducale, Mantua